While cleaning out my wife's mother's home after her death we found two dolls. The dolls were bought to the United States by her mother's grandfather. Both dolls are constructed the same way having leather bodies and arms as seen in picture 3. The doll with the checked dress has eyes that have been painted on while the doll in red has eyes that open and close. The only markings I found were on the back of both dolls around the shoulder area and below the glued on leather body (see picture 4). Each doll had different markings. The dolls are approximately 15 inches tall.

Shop for:

Comments

Manikin, 5 years agoI need to see the other dolls marking . You can remove the photo of body and add it to this post please

This is a German Bisque doll( Dolly face) cira 1890's into 1920's . She is made by Armand Marseille mold 370 below the 370 there is more writing saying germany and AM it is covered by body . She has real hair as the dolls of her era had real human hair or mohair . She is one of the most often found Bisque dolls as they were produced over such a long period
Armand Marseille dolls were produced from roughly 1885 until approximately 1930.
About The Armand Marseille Doll Company:

Located in Koppelsdorf, in the Thuringia region of Germany, the Armand Marseille doll company was at the heart of the German dollmaking revolution in the 1890s. Started by Armand Marseille in 1865, the company didn't make dolls until approximately 1885. Armand Marseille, Jr. was at the head of the company for the majority of the company's dollmaking years.
Materials:

Almost all of the doll heads were made of bisque; many other doll companies purchased Armand Marseille doll heads. Doll bodies were generally made of composition or stuffed kid with bisque arms.
Basic Types of Armand Marseille Dolls:

As mentioned, the majority of Armand Marseille dolls were made with bisque heads; the most common being the 390 head mold on a composition body and the 370 (a shoulder head mold) on a stuffed kid body. Armand Marseille also made a large variety of baby dolls including the Dream Baby, toddler dolls, character dolls including Just Me and several rare models. Other well known dolly-faced child dolls include Floradora, Queen Louise and Darling Dolly. They also made googlies.

tparrish, 5 years agoThank you for your kind and quick reply. Above, is the picture of the other doll's markings. The marking was not as pronounced or as easy to see. As per the attorney we need to establish a value for both doll's. Any suggestions or where we might go to establish a value for the estate?

Thanks again.

Tom

Manikin, 5 years agoOh that is hard to see I think it says Germany . Look under her hair for a mark ok
She has glass eyes that are stationary not painted eyes . The best source to check prices in recent sales is Ebay ended auctions . See if you can see a letter under her hair ok . The 370 does not have a high value as she is common and not to sought after by bisque antique collectors . She is for a beginner collection .

tparrish, 5 years agoI looked (see fourth picture above) as you suggested under the doll's hair and found no additional markings. Do you have an estimate as to the age of each doll?

Thanks again for your time and assistance.

Manikin, 5 years agoThe dolls mold number will be under word germany or a letter . It is important to know who made her . She is the one that maybe be worth more as not as common as the AM 370
many factors go into price . Does doll have any crack. chips or hairline cracks on head . They both have original bodies . Rarity of doll, how they are dressed in correct vintage clothes to era , shoes ,socks , several layers of slips usually under clothes. Correct hair (your's have that ) size , open or closed mouth . Yours have open mouth which sell lower . Body made of composition usually sell higher as you can pose them , Character faces sell for more . yours are what are called dolly faced . So you see how complicated it is :-) They date from most likely from late 1880's .
sold

tparrish, 5 years agoFor a guy who watched his daughters play with dolls I am gaining an appreciation for the world of doll collecting and identification. The head of the doll has no cracks or chips at all. The head is in perfect condition other than being dirty. I peeled the leather back below the word Germany and found the following marking 1809. I hope this helps.

tparrish, 5 years agoThanks, I appreciate your helping me with this. There is no way I would have found the information you found for me. I will share your information with my wife and see what diredtion she wants to head in regarding keeping or selling the dolls.

Best wishes.

Manikin, 5 years agoYour welcome glad I could help . Please remember to mark solved so it doesn't keep coming up when we look for ones that need solving yet .

andyman, 5 years agoSeems to be in very good condition and I would call it almost as good as it gets .Excellent condition.
It does not matter how many there are or commonality , it matters what condition it is in. I would say very good condition.
Very nice.

Manikin, 5 years agoAndy how abundant a doll is reflects greatly on price . Of coarse condition is everything on any Antique doll but Bisque doll collectors look for less common dolls and Character faces , fashion dolls ect . These German dolls are wonderful dolly faced dolls posted but because there are so many available as they were made in huge numbers and for a long period of time ,they are most common Bisque dolls found in today's market . A Mint in box all factory original although common doll to find would be very desirable and of coarse correct body , no chip's cracks. hairlines ect . Many factors determine a dolls value but that is not to dismiss these beauty's posted .

madlizbeth, 2 months agoI have a doll which is very old. It has a label saying 'An Eastern shepherd' (handwritten) it has a jointed composite body and a bisque or porcelain head. On the back if it's head are 3 letters 'dop'. Can anyone tell me anything about this please? The face looks like Armand Marseille but I can't find these letters referenced to AM.

madlizbeth, 2 months agoSorry I didn't mean to put that comment there I'm trying to start a new question.